Now at the end of the line, Harry Potter can be seen for what it is: the best long-form film series of all time. Even if you’re deeply cynical just to be cynical, half of the eight films are really good. The series goes out with a bang, essentially consisting of a brief buildup to a 90-minute battle sequence, with very little story to sidetrack the duel between Potter and Voldemort. As good as Alfonso Cuarón’s Prisoner of Azkaban was, the franchise found its groove under director David Yates. Helming the final four movies, Yates has given each its own identity, even though they never lost focus of the finish line. He sends off Potter in unforgettable style.
ByColin Boyd